A boy of eight was viciously attacked by a Japanese akita-type dog as he played near his home.

Matthew Fowler needed hospital treatment for six bite marks to his ear after the incident.

Now his parents are fearful over another attack as the dog has not been destroyed.

The youngster was playing tennis with friends in Grosvenor Gardens, Normanby, when the dog pounced.

The sandy coloured dog escaped from a nearby house and jumped up and bit Matthew.

He was pulled to the ground and his friend kicked at the dog so that Matthew could escape.

Amanda, Matthew's mum, said: "The first I knew was when he came running in the house.

"I could hear him crying and saw the blood pouring out of him.

"I asked him what was wrong. He just said 'the dog, the dog'."

The owner of the dog, which lives in the same street, removed it from the area.

Matthew's ear had to be glued and steri-stripped at hospital - he also had a further bite mark to his head. Now Mrs Fowler, 36, and Matthew's dad Jeremy, 41, are very concerned to see the dog still in the street.

The Fowlers said they agreed they would not push for the dog to be destroyed if it wore a muzzle in public. But the family are not confident this is happening all the time and say it has been seen outside unmuzzled.